Candy Cigarettes: Should they be banned???

[Siamese Democracy]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57561159-504083/candy-cigarettes-bring-warning-for-st-paul-sweet-shop-owner/

December 28, 2012 5:31 PM PrintText "Candy cigarettes" bring warning for St. Paul sweet shop owner

A St. Paul, Minn., sweet shop has been warned to stop selling "candy cigarettes" and other tobacco-themed treats, or risk a fine.
CBS Minnesota (CBS/AP) ST. PAUL, Minn. - Owners of an old-school soda shop in St. Paul, Minn., are being warned to quit the habit of selling their popular novelty candy cigarettes.

City inspectors threatened a misdemeanor citation and $500 fine if Lynden's soda fountain is caught selling the fake smokes again. The Star Tribune reported Wednesday that the offering violated an ordinance barring the sale of candy smokes and cartoon character lighters.

A city spokesman says the warning came after inspectors received and looked into a complaint about the presence of the tobacco-themed products. The ordinance was enacted to discourage youngsters from picking up a real smoking habit.


According to CBS Minnesota, the news was a surprise to owner Tobi Lynden, who opened the shop last April. She says the candy cigarettes were best sellers and mostly purchased by adults.


"We're a tiny little soda fountain shop that specializes in vintage candies and vintage sodas," Lynden said. "We never had any issues with it. People were always happy to see them."


In addition to the candy cigarettes, the inspector removed the Big League Chew and the bubble gum cigars, CBS Minnesota reports.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Oh great, now the price of candy cigarettes is gonna sky-rocket!   

btw, the concept of candy cigarettes is pretty bad if ya think about it.
Don't get me wrong, I've eaten my share of them (and did not develop a smoking habit) and enjoyed their sugary badness immensely.

[cotis]

no - loved those things as a child.

I don't smoke now.

but still enjoy the occasional candy cigarette.

[Gunner80]

Absolutely not! when I was a kid in the 80's these candies were lots of fun. They used to come in boxes that looked like real cigarette packages. I never developed a smoking habit from these candies. Never smoked.   

[cineater]

I smoke.  Start taking the quit smoking pill today.  We'll see, quitting is kind of like taking away your will to live.  I don't think candy cigs would help with this.

[cineater]

One of my cars blew the engine.  Do they make chocolate candy cigs? 

[cineater]

So it's been a while since I've had a smoke.  I think about it but I'm not scheduled to run into temptation again until Saturday.  Yeah I'll give in but I can wait until then.  So I wasn't expecting to run across any number of those misplaced packs I've got every where.  Only two in it, but I can't just throw them away, into my purse it goes.

And because I've got them, I'm going to light up on my way home but I'll only smoke half.  (I have junkie thinking.)  Oh yeah it's stale, big time.  Convince myself this is no good and I might as well just stop.  But I've already taken the ash tray out of the car and while I don't like throwing butts out the window it's my only option.  But I'm not going to let anyone see me do it.  Look in my rear view and Sister Sandy is behind me.  No way am I throwing it out in front of a nun!

Normally this lady drives like a bat out of hell.  She's blown past me any number of times but not today.  She's seen my car.  Who in this business doesn't know my car?  She follows me till the cigarette has almost burned into the filter.  You know, I'm just screwed on this whole smoke.  And I still have one in my purse.

[raindogs70]

It has very very little influence on kids taking up smoking. I can't say zero because there's prob. 1 in a billion that said it was their gateway.

Bad boys influenced smoking in real life, in movies, and in music. It can't be denied because there's guitarists who have said that thought it looked cool to emulate Page and EVH (and prob. Slash) by using their headstock as a cigarette holder.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

I did not know they still were around. Assumed they already were banned.

But no, they should not be banned.

[Bodhi]

I did not know they still were around. Assumed they already were banned.

But no, they should not be banned.

I agree, it shouldn't be banned and thats coming from me who thinks smokers should be imprisoned and not allowed to vote.   

[cineater]

Dj's hanging with Dizzy tonight.  Who I'd hang with if I wanted to bum a smoke.  That's junkie thinking for you.